New Co. Car 330d v 420d XDrive v C250 BluTec?????

[BigMav]

Hello Folks

This is my first post, so apologies if it's self-serving - but I need to start somewhere.

My company car is soon up for renewal, and I need to order a replacement. I am 32yo single (no kids / family considerations etc) but can't decide between the following:
BMW 330d M Sport 8sp Au + £3k extras (21% BIK)
BMW 420d X Drive / M Sport 6sp man+ £3K extras (21% BIK)
New Merc C250 AMG Line Premium Plus 7Sp Au (19% BIK)

I really fancy the 330d performance (but worry about the winter, grip etc), prefer the 420d's looks and grip, and love the quality of the C250's interior......

All are roughly the same lease price, but I can't decide between them (Mercedes is slightly less tax). I'm leaning towards the 330d, but am concerned about the winter qualities (never had a RWD before, and being a lease car - I can't just 'switch' from standard run-flats to winter tyres). The 420d looks nice, but I can't help worrying that I'll find the 2.0/184 engine dull. The new C Class has just been launched, but I hear that the engine/gearbox combo is disappointing.

Does anyone have any suggestions / advice etc / reality check?? It would be much appreciated. PS - I've been driving a 2.0 Audi A4 for the past 18 months.

Many thanks in advance.

[willmagrath]

330d all day, veeeeery nippy compared to the 420d, even the 250! Just buy some winter tyres for the 1 day it snows

[john banks]

Is there any way to get AWD with 8 spd auto and six cylinders by giving up extras or trim? Depends on your priorities but for Scotland living on a steep hill with high snowfall I require AWD and winter tyres but all the four cylinder engines I tried were horrible, and most sportily suspended/tyred stuff rode terribly too but I was buying privately rather than company so had more flexibility.

[matthias73]

Get decent tyres and don't drive like an idiot and you'll be fine. Pop a bag of rice in the back of the beemer if there's snow, and you'll be sweet.

If there are genuinely big snow drifts, or really st weather, an Msport BMW is going to be st anyway. You need a bit of ground clearance and some decent tyres. Sounds like the 420 will come with massive alloys and summer tyres anyway, so you're not going to get any real benefit from the 4 wheel drive.

I've had an e34 525i when I lived in a ski resort and it had quite a high ride height, along with smaller alloys and decent tyres, used to offroad all the time and it had no problem with snow.

I also used to drive a rear wheel drive transit van in a ski resort for work. With nobody in the back it was a bit light over the rear axle and I could have a bit of fun, but I'm still alive and didn't come close to crashing.

[Pferdestarke]

Go for the 330d all day long. My 320d is a very accomplished car but lacks the ultimate six cylinder refinement and point to point real world speed that the 3.0 has in bucket loads.

The 8 speed ZF 'box is a masterpiece.

[billshoreham]

The 8 speed ZF 'box is a masterpiece.
+1

[BigMav]

john banks said:

Is there any way to get AWD with 8 spd auto and six cylinders by giving up extras or trim? Depends on your priorities but for Scotland living on a steep hill with high snowfall I require AWD and winter tyres but all the four cylinder engines I tried were horrible, and most sportily suspended/tyred stuff rode terribly too but I was buying privately rather than company so had more flexibility.

This would leave me with a 330d X Drive M Sport and leaving out the pro nav, m sport+ pack and comfort pack. The 3.0 AWD also takes BIK tax to 23%, which is too much.

Thanks for all replies, if I could change the tyres then I would easily choose the 330d RWD. But it's a lease car, so I'd get whatever they authorise.

Bottom line - I don't live on a hill in Scotland, so AWD is not a necessity. I just fancied the increased chances of mobility in adverse weather.

[Pferdestarke]

The DTC is so good and always keeps hold of the reigns should you overstep the mark I wouldn't bother with Xdrive.

It also deletes M Sport suspension and adds an inch to ride height. This is discussed hugely on f30 post and is a bone of contention amongst owners on the whole. The car sits unnaturally high and is softer on the twisties.

[matthias73]

BigMav said:

john banks said:

Is there any way to get AWD with 8 spd auto and six cylinders by giving up extras or trim? Depends on your priorities but for Scotland living on a steep hill with high snowfall I require AWD and winter tyres but all the four cylinder engines I tried were horrible, and most sportily suspended/tyred stuff rode terribly too but I was buying privately rather than company so had more flexibility.

This would leave me with a 330d X Drive M Sport and leaving out the pro nav, m sport+ pack and comfort pack. The 3.0 AWD also takes BIK tax to 23%, which is too much.

Thanks for all replies, if I could change the tyres then I would easily choose the 330d RWD. But it's a lease car, so I'd get whatever they authorise.

Bottom line - I don't live on a hill in Scotland, so AWD is not a necessity. I just fancied the increased chances of mobility in adverse weather.

Surely you can pop your own wheels on a lease car? who the hell is going to notice..

[Fox-]

This is a no brainer, nothing about the 4 Series is worth compromising to a 2 litre 4 pot over the 3 litre 6 in the 330d.

[carl_w]

matthias73 said:

Get decent tyres and don't drive like an idiot and you'll be fine. Pop a bag of rice in the back of the beemer if there's snow, and you'll be sweet.

Or if you get some winters on steelies, you can stick one of the summer-shod alloys in the boot. Two if necessary.

[Pferdestarke]

Fox- said:

This is a no brainer, nothing about the 4 Series is worth compromising to a 2 litre 4 pot over the 3 litre 6 in the 330d.

Exactly. The four is a three coupe remember.

[Vee]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

330d. Just make sure the "proper" lease approved tyres are back on when you hand it back.

The car is fine on the new run flats, even with normal suspension.

[jimbop1]

Even though the 4 Series looks abit nicer, I'd go with a 330d spirt auto any day.

[jimbop1]

willmagrath said:

330d all day, veeeeery nippy compared to the 420d, even the 250! Just buy some winter tyres for the 1 day it snows

I wouldn't describe the 330d as nippy.

[Actus Reus]

Never driven one, but how does the Merc compare? Newest car on the market and I'm easily sold by shiny shiny and from what I've seen and read the Merc is a good car?

[RE92]

jimbop1 said:

I wouldn't describe the 330d as nippy.

If 255bhp and 413lb ft isn't nippy then what is it? 5.4 seconds to 60 is faster than most hot hatches.

Regardless of context I would call it 'nippy' but given it's sat in the diesel company car category then it seems pretty awesome.

OP: From those choices I would take the 330d. xDrive is utterly useless unless you live in the highlands.
If you have 3k to spend on options then can't you make it to the 430d sDrive and skip the nav bullst?
The nav is nice to have and it makes the cabin look nice but I don't think it's worth compromising on the car just for a little pop-up screen.

[AB]

You get the screen regardless of whether you have sat nav.

I've always been of the opinion that sat nav in a company car is pointless; buy a TomTom and buy it once. In a company car you pay for it every month!

[Pferdestarke]

But a TomTom stuck to the dash of a new BM just screams poverty spec.

I can highly recommend pro nav but be prepared to learn how to use it properly and it'll reward you.

OP - have you made your mind up yet?

[AB]

If £ per month is an issue, I'd worry less about people seeing me with a (far superior, easily updated, shows cameras etc) TomTom than not...

At the end of the day you're in a 330d M Sport and it's not very often you'll see a more accomplished car whilst pounding the motorways.

OP, do you use sat nav a lot?